Synopsis
A shy teenage boy trying to escape the influence of his domineering mother, has his world changed when he begins to work for a retired actress.
Your Movie Library
Cast
- Laura LinneyLaura Marshall
- Rupert GrintBen Marshall
- Julie WaltersEvie Walton
- Michelle DuncanBryony
- Oliver MilburnPeter
- Tamsin EgertonSarah
- Nicholas FarrellRobert
- Jim NortonMr. Fincham
- Chandra RueggChandra
- Rose KeeganEmma Pagent
Recommendations
- 70
Variety
Basically conservative yet titillatingly "eccentric" British laffer could succeed in the "Full Monty" import slot. - 70
Village Voice
The sentiment's a bit thick sometimes, but Walters remains sharp, and is sure to inspire drag queens everywhere. - 70
L.A. Weekly
While Driving Lessons' writer-director, Jeremy Brock, sticks to the all-too-familiar template of such tales, he's given Walters her best role since "Educating Rita." Hamming it up with the precision of a master, she makes this somewhat plodding film a pleasure, as does young Grint. - 70
The New York Times
The screwball aging diva genre isn't the only formula guiding this stubbornly old-fashioned movie. Driving Lessons belongs to the silly feel-good mode of "The Full Monty," "Calendar Girls," "Billy Elliot," "Kinky Boots" and dozens of other celebrations of Britons defying convention to become "free," whatever that means. - 63
TV Guide Magazine
Linney's character is written as a one-dimensional monster whose selfish cruelty is beyond redemption and, ultimately, belief. - 63
New York Daily News
Linney hits a single note for her uptight character, while Walters travels the scale indiscriminately. Her outsized eccentric darts from amusing to grating. Only Grint is just right, as the boy they, and the film, can't do without. - 60
Los Angeles Times
Driving Lessons follows the well-worn path laid down by other, better movies while making strained, ludicrous things happen toward the end. - 60
The Hollywood Reporter
Aiming for wacky and heartwarming, the film is, at its sporadic best, a mildly diverting coming-of-age story. At its worst, it feels forced.
